The Aftermath of Deliverance
After deliverance, it is normal to feel a bit tired. After a few days, it's very likely that past memories of bad things we did will come back to us. Some of us will feel very condemned — and that is exactly the point.
I Am Feeling Sad About Things I Did
The Aftermath of Deliverance
Romans 3:23, John 3:17, Lamentations 3:26-30, James 4:6, Psalm 51:17
All Have Sinned
All humans have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That is why we need the blood of Jesus to save us. There is no one who is truly good — not even one (Romans 3:10-12).
The Holy Spirit's Conviction
The conviction we feel is from the Holy Spirit. This is not condemnation — it is conviction. There is a difference. Condemnation is from Satan, trying to make us feel worthless and beyond repair. Conviction is from the Holy Spirit, helping us see our need for God's mercy.
We are supposed to let God shame us so that we become humble. This is not a pleasant process, but it is a necessary one.
The Discipline of the Lord
Lamentations 3:26-30 says:
“It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. He sits alone and has silent, because He has borne it for him. He gives his cheek to one who strikes him, and is filled with reproach.”
It is good to be quiet. It is good to let the Lord discipline us. The point is to bring us to a position of humility. God does not reject a broken spirit — He draws near to the humble (James 4:6).
God Does Not Despise Your Brokenness
When we feel the weight of our past sins, it can feel overwhelming. We might wonder if God is tired of us, if He looks at us with disappointment, or if our regret is somehow a sign that we have failed Him. But Scripture tells us something radically different.
“The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”
This is a profound truth: God does not turn away from a broken heart. He does not despise it or find it annoying. In fact, a humbled heart is the very sacrifice that pleases Him. When we come to God with our sadness over our sins, we are not coming empty-handed — we are bringing the one thing He treasures most. Our brokenness is not a barrier to His presence; it is the pathway in.
So do not run from your sorrow. Do not try to numb it or push it away. Let it bring you to God, because He is already reaching toward you.
This Is the Path of Salvation
Being sorry for what we have done is part of the salvation journey. The Holy Spirit does this in us to help us see that we have done evil and that we are evil in our natural state. This is not to make us despair — it is to drive us to the only solution: the blood of Jesus.
Not Condemned, But Saved
John 3:17 explains:
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
God didn't send Jesus to condemn us — He sent Jesus to save us. It's all about choosing truth and accepting the blood of Jesus to cancel our sins rather than thinking we are good people.
This is the truth: we are not good. But through Jesus, we can be made right with God. The sadness we feel when we remember our past sins is the Holy Spirit working in us, drawing us to repentance and ultimately to the foot of the cross where grace awaits.
“He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Scripture Foundation
Romans 3:23 (CSB)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
John 3:17 (CSB)
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Lamentations 3:26-30 (CSB)
“It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has imposed it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust — there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with shame.”
James 4:6 (CSB)
“But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Psalm 51:17 (CSB)
“The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”
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